Hair twist

ABSTRACT

A hair twist for providing a spiral curl to hair. The hair twist includes an elongate body member and a securing member. The body member includes spaced-apart first and second ends, and at least one groove for receiving a strand of hair therein to form a spiral around the body member. The securing member secures the strand of hair to the body member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/702,224 filed on Jul. 25, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair twist, and more particularly, to a hair twist that can be used to provide a spiral curl to hair.

Hair twists or rollers are well known in the art. Typically, hair rollers are elongate cylinders. The rollers come in different shapes and cross-sectional diameters to impart a curl having a corresponding specific size and curvature.

In an effort to create the appearance of naturally curly hair, rollers of varying shapes and sizes have been created. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,698 discloses a curler for hairstyles and permanent waves. The curler has an elongate body with cross-sections similar to an elliptical profile that changes continuously from a minimum to a maximum diameter. An elastic strip is stretched longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the elongate body to lock the curler in the hair.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,404 discloses a hair curler device formed as a longitudinally extending body with a thicker intermediate portion and thinner arm portions on each side of the intermediate portion. A hair strand is wrapped around the curler and secured by a hair-holding element.

While these prior art curlers allow a strand of hair to be wrapped around and secured to the curler, they do not provide a means for preventing the hair strand from sliding along the curler. As a result, a less than optimal spiral curl is achieved.

Accordingly, there is a need for a hair twist that can provide a naturally-looking spiral curl in an efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a hair twist that can produce a spiral curl.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hair twist that secures and prevents a hair strand from sliding along the hair twist.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hair twist that can produce a natural looking curl.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hair twist that is easy to use.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a hair twist including an elongate body member and a securing member. The body member includes spaced-apart first and second ends, and at least one groove for receiving a strand of hair therein to form a spiral around the body member.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the securing member includes spaced-apart first and second end members. The first end member is adapted to engage the first end of the body member and the second end member is adapted to engage the second end of the body member to secure the securing member to the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body member includes a plurality of spaced-apart grooves formed on opposing sides of the body member in an alternating fashion.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of spaced-apart grooves are adapted to receive a strand hair therein to form a spiral around the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body member is hollow.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first end member includes a release portion having a projection for being received within the first end of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second end includes a slot formed therein for receiving the second end member of the securing member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the securing member includes spaced-apart side members extending between the first and second end members for interconnecting the first and second end members.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a hair twist includes an elongate body member and a securing member. The body member includes spaced-apart first and second ends and a continuous groove spiraling around the body member for receiving a strand of hair. The securing member secures the strand of hair to the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method for creating a tight, uniform curl in hair includes the steps of providing a hair twist having an elongate body member having spaced-apart first and second ends and at least one groove for receiving a strand of hair therein in to form a spiral around the body member, and a securing member having spaced-apart first and second end members adapted to engage the first and second ends respectively. The method further includes the steps of wrapping a strand of hair around the body member such that the strand of hair is positioned in the at least one groove, and securing the securing member to the body member to prevent the hair from unwrapping.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, further including the step of positioning the second end member in a slot formed in the second end of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, further including the step of stretching the securing member along a length of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, further including the step of securing the first end member in the first end of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first end member includes a release portion having a projection for being received within the first end of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the securing member includes spaced-apart side members extending between the first and second end members for interconnecting the first and second end members.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, further including the step of positioning the projection within the first end of the body member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, further including the step of stretching the side members along a length of the body member to allow the first end member to be received in the first end of the body member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a hair twist;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair twist of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an elongate body member of the hair twist of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the elongate body member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a securing member of the hair twist of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of a hair twist according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, an exemplary hair twist according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and shown generally at reference numeral 10.

The hair twist 10 includes an elongate body member 11 and a securing member 12. The body member 11 includes a plurality of spaced-apart grooves 13 formed thereon. As illustrated, the grooves 13 are formed on opposing sides 14 and 15 of the body member 11 in an alternating fashion. The securing member 12 is connected to first and second opposing ends 17 and 18 of the body member 11 for securing hair around the body member 11.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the body member 11 is generally cylindrical and may be constructed of a material such as plastic. In the illustrated example, the body member 11 is hollow. A slot 19 is formed in the second end 18 of the body member 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the securing member 12 includes a pair of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart side members 20 and 21 connected by a pair of spaced-apart end members 22 and 23. End member 22 includes a release portion 24 having a projection 25 sized to fit within the first end 17 of the body member 11. The slot 19 and the end member 23 are sized so that they fit together snugly.

To use the hair twist 10, a strand of hair is wrapped around the body member 11. In wrapping the hair, the hair is positioned in each of the grooves 13 from one end to the other, thereby forming a spiral around the body member 11. The grooves 13 secure the hair in position along the body member 11, preventing the hair from sliding, creating a tight, uniform curl.

Once the hair is wrapped around the body member 11, the securing member 12 is connected to the body member 11 to prevent the hair from unwrapping. This is done by first positioning end member 23 within the slot 19 of the body member 11. The securing member 12 is then stretched slightly along the body member 11 until the projection 24 is positioned within the first end 17. The hair twist may be used with a setting lotion or gel, and may be used with wet or dry hair. After the hair has set, the hair twist 10 is removed by pulling the release portion 24 of the securing member 12 until the projection 25 is disconnected from the first end 17 of the body member 11. The body member 11 is then removed from the hair, producing a natural looking spiral curl.

FIG. 6 an alternative hair twist 110 which includes an elongate body member 111 and a securing member 112. The body member 111 includes a continuous groove 113 that spirals around the body member 111 from a first end 117 to a second end 118. Like the hair twist 10, the securing member 112 is connected to the body member 111 by positioning an end member 123 of the securing member 112 in a slot 119 of the body member 111, and positioning a projection 125 of an end member 122 of the securing member within the first end 117.

A hair twist is described above. Various details of the invention may be charged without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation. 

1. A hair twist, comprising: (a) an elongate body member, including: (i) spaced-apart first and second ends; (ii) at least one groove for receiving a strand of hair therein to form a spiral around the body member; and (b) a securing member for securing the strand of hair to the body member.
 2. The hair twist according to claim 1, wherein the body member includes a plurality of spaced-apart grooves formed on opposing sides of the body member in an alternating fashion.
 3. The hair twist according to claim 1, wherein the securing member includes spaced-apart first and second end members, the first end member being adapted to engage the first end of the body member and the second end member being adapted to engage the second end of the body member, thereby securing the securing member to the body member.
 4. The hair twist according to claim 1, wherein the body member is hollow.
 5. The hair twist according to claim 3, wherein the first end member includes a release portion having a projection for being received within the first end of the body member.
 6. The hair twist according to claim 3, wherein the second end includes a slot formed therein for receiving the second end member of the securing member.
 7. The hair twist according to claim 1, wherein the securing member includes spaced-apart side members extending between a first end member and a second end member for interconnecting the first end member and the second end member.
 8. A hair twist, comprising: (a) an elongate body member, including: (i) spaced-apart first and second ends; (ii) a continuous groove spiraling around the body member for receiving a strand of hair; and (b) a securing member for securing the strand of hair to the body member.
 9. The hair twist according to claim 8, wherein the securing member includes spaced-apart first and second end members, the first end member being adapted to engage the first end of the body member and the second end member being adapted to engage the second end of the body member, thereby securing the securing member to the body member.
 10. The hair twist according to claim 9, wherein the first end member includes a release portion having a projection for being received within the first end of the body member.
 11. The hair twist according to claim 9, wherein the second end includes a slot formed therein for receiving the second end member of the securing member.
 12. The hair twist according to claim 8, wherein the securing member includes spaced-apart side members extending between a first end member and a second end member for interconnecting the first end member and the second end member.
 13. A method for creating a tight, uniform curl in hair, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hair twist, comprising: (i) an elongate body member having spaced-apart first and second ends and at least one groove for receiving a strand of hair therein to form a spiral around the body member; and (ii) a securing member having spaced-apart first and second end members adapted to engage the first and second ends respectively (b) wrapping a strand of hair around the body member such that the strand of hair is positioned in the at least one groove; and (c) securing the securing member to the body member to prevent the hair from unwrapping.
 14. The method according to claim 13, and further including the step of positioning the second end member in a slot formed in the second end of the body member.
 15. The method according to claim 14, and further including the step of stretching the securing member along a length of the body member.
 16. The method according to claim 15, and further including the step of securing the first end member in the first end of the body member.
 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first end member includes a release portion having a projection for being received within the first end of the body member.
 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the securing member includes spaced-apart side members extending between the first and second end members for interconnecting the first and second end members.
 19. The method according to claim 17, and further including the step of positioning the projection within the first end of the body member.
 20. The method according to claim 18, and further including the step of stretching the side members along a length of the body member to allow the first end member to be received in the first end of the body member. 